Pulmonary uptake of MDP : Demonstration of site by correlation of emission and transmission computed tomography

PULMONARY UPTAKE OF MDP Radionuclide bone scanning is now a standard technique in the staging of many malignancies. Probably the most frequent application is in screening patients with known primary malignancy and potential bone metastases. In primary malignant bone tumours, bone scanning is also useful with images often showing the lesion to be more extensive than was suspected from radiographs (McKillop et al., 1974). Bone forming metastases in the lungs can sometimes be detected before they become visible on the chest radiograph (McKillop et al. 1974, Robinson 1979, Ghaed et al. 1981). Although radionuclide imaging of bone is very sensitive, it is of low specificity and a variety of other pathologies can also be shown. It is occasionally difficult when looking at the thorax on the bone

e developed shoulder pain and a radionuclide bone scane (Figure 9) was done to exclude the possibility of bony meta- static deposits.The images showed areas of increased uptake over the chest, thought possibly to lie wit ribs.The appear- ances were however somewhat equivocal and emission CT was therefore performed (Figures 10a and b).This showed the areas of increased uptake to lie at both hila not in the ribs.Transmission CT was then perfo

ed (Figure 11) and th
s showed the presence of calcification in the hilar nodes.


DISCUSSION

Three cases are presented in which increased uptake of 99 m Tc methylene diphosphonate (MDP) was shown overlying ribs but further examination using emission computed tomo- graphy of the bone scan together with transmission computed tomography demonstrated the cause to be intrapulmonary.In two cases there was uptake in intrapulmonary metastatic deposits from osteosarcoma.In the third case there was uptake of MDP in calcified hilar nodes due to sarcoidosis.The uptake of radiopharmaceuticals used for bone scan- ning by a variety of lung lesions is well recognised.Those E 7 0 I i kS 0' 0 t Figure 2 ECAT image of isotope bone scan of Case A showing the area of increased activity in the thorax to lie posteriorly in the right lung rather than in a rib.(a: vertebral body, b: sternum, c: metastatic deposit).

Figure 2 ECAT image of isotope bone scan of Case A showing the area of increased activity in the thorax to lie posteriorly in the right lung rather than in a rib.(a: vertebral body, b: sternum, c: metastatic deposit).(above) P.A. and (bel

) left lateral chest
adiographs of Case B, showing a well defined calcific opacity in the left lower lobe, and a similar smaller lesion at the right base.(above) P.A. and (below) left lateral chest radiographs of Case B, showing a well defined calcific opacity in the left lower lobe, and a similar smaller lesion at the right base.

reported include primary and secondary neoplasms ( ).In this paper a case of MDP uptake in hilar nodes calcified due to sarcoidosis is reported a combination that has only once previously been reported (Poulose et al.  1975).In some situations there is a possibility of both lung and bone lesions being present.The three cases presented all illustrate the difficulty which can be encountered in discrimi- nating between such lesions using the standard planar bone scan images.

Emission computed tomography is a method by which a three dimensional image can be reconstructed from the distri- bution of a radiopharmaceutical administered to a patient.Its use with conventional radionuclide imaging of the skeleton using MDP has been limited but it is a useful method of localising areas

increased activity i
the sites which are equivocal on planar images.

In all three cases presented the areas of increased activity in the thorax were localised in the lungs and rib lesions were excluded.


BRISTOL

Figure 5 CT section of the mid-thoracic region of Case B showing a large, calcified metastatic deposit corresponding with the lesion on the chest radiograph and an additional smaller peripheral metastasis.

Figure 5 CT section of the mid-thoracic region of Case B showing a large, calcified metastatic deposit corresponding with the lesion on the chest radiograph and an additional smaller peripheral metastasis.
Figure 6
Transmission CT section of Case B just above the diaphragm showing the right basal metastasis seen on the chest radio- graph.
Figure 6
Transmission CT section of Case B just above the diaphragm showing the right basal metastasis seen on the chest radio- graph.

Figure 7 Planar bone scan of Case B (anterior view) showing an area of increased activity in the region of the le

fourth rib
There is absence of uptake at the site of resection in the left femur but increase at the proximal end.
Figure 7
Planar bone scan of Case B (anterior view) showing an area of increased activity in the region of the left fourth rib.There is absence of uptake at the site of resection in the left femur but increase at the proximal end.

A'

Figure 8 ECAT image of Case B at the level of the area of increased uptake seen on the planar image.It shows this to lie within the lung posteriorly rather than in a rib.(a: spine, b: sternum, c: metastatic deposit, d: ribs).

Figure 8 ECAT image of Case B at the level of the area of increased uptake seen on the planar image.It shows this to lie within the lung posteriorly rather than in a rib. (a: spine, h: sternum, c: metastatic deposit, d: ribs).

Transmission computed tomography provides a fine display of anatomical detail and comparison of the emission CT images with those of transmission CT enables areas of increased activity to be identified with anatomical structures or pathological lesions (McMillan et al. 1983).This assists in determining the exact nature of the lesion, which is of prime importance for clinical management.The combination of the two techniques is therefore recommended in the evaluation of equivocal thoracic bone scan images.


A Figure 9

Posterior thoracic planar image from isotope bone scan of Case C, showing bilateral areas of increased activity over the medial ends of the posterior ribs.
Figure 9
Posterior thoracic planar image from isotope bone scan of Case C, showing bilateral areas of increased activity over the medial ends of the posterior ribs.ECAT images of the hilar reg on of Case C showing the areas of increased uptake to lie at the hila and not in ribs, (a: spine, b: sternum, c: hilar lymph nodes).ECAT images of the hilar region of Case C showing the areas of increased uptake to lie at the hila and not in ribs, (a: spine, b: sternum, c: hilar lymph nodes).
Figure 11
Transmission CT image of the hilar regions of Case C, show- ing calcification in hilar lymph nodes bilaterally.There has been a left mastectomy.
Figure 11
Transmission CT image of the hilar regions of Case C, show- ing calcification in hilar

bilateral
y.There has been a left mastectomy.

Figure 1
1
Figure 1Planar image (anterior view) of isotope bone scan of Case A showing

eas of in
reased activity over the right side of the pelvis and the anterior end of the right fourth rib.


Figure 1
1
Figure 1


3 I
3
Figure 3


Figure 3 Transmission
3
Figure 3Transmission CT section of Case A at the level of the lesion seen on the ECAT image showing a large metastatic deposit interposed between two of the lower lobe vessels.


Figure 4
4
Figure 4


Figure 4
4
Figure 4


Figure 10
10
Figure 10(a) and (b)


Figure 10
10
Figure 10(a) and (b)



















Poulose et al. 1975, Ghaed et al. 1981), radiation pneumonitis and one case of sarcoidosis (Poulose et al. 1975) and pulmonary emboli with coexistent hypercalcaemic (Wraight 1983).Previous reports also indicate that bone forming metastases may be detected by radionuclide scanning before becoming visible on the plain chest radiograph (McKillop et al. 1974,

Robinson 1979

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThe authors are grateful for the help from Miss J. Hugh, Dr. B. Hale and the Dept. of Medical Illustration.
Detection of Extraosseous Metastases from Ost

sarcoma w
th 99mTc-Polyphosphate Bone Scanning. N Ghaed, J H Thrall, S M Pinsky, M C Johnson, Cancer. 481981

The Indications for and Limitations of Bone